Students rally against education budget shortfalls

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Dozens of Lower Mainland public school students have gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, demanding an end to budget shortfalls.    

Their message:  Education is crucial, and programs can't be cut.  The same message has been delivered previously by teachers and parents, but this time it's coming from a student-organized rally.  Students have arrived from all over the Lower Mainland, hoping to send a strong signal to the provincial government.

They say they're trying to let the government know there are 'victims', when it comes to education budget shortfalls.  Vancouver's school board currently has a $16 million budget shortfall.  The students are angry that programs are being cut, and staff are losing jobs.

Vancouver School Board Chair Patti Bacchus was at the rally, and was thrilled to see so much student support for an end to budget shortfalls.  Bacchus hopes the rally will bolster the VSB's dispute with the government over funding.